Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/203

] which the parrots frequently feed upon, notwithtanding the hardnes of the hell which urrounds it.

The mot common hrub in thee low grounds was a new pecies of the embothrium, remarkable for the hardnes of its leaves. Thee leaves are of an oval form, three inches in length and one in breadth.

We followed a very difficult path, in order to arrive at the place where our men were taking in water. Night overtook us before we had finihed more than half our journey, and to add to our misfortunes, a very high wind from the wet brought with it uch a heavy rain, that we were obliged, like the avages of New Holland, to eek for helter in hollow trunks of trees. We had reaon to apprehend that the ignals we made for a boat to come to fetch us, would be rendered ueles by the rainy weather, and were beginning to make preparations for paing a very unpleaant night in the midt of the foret; when we heard the voices of ome ailors who were ent to fetch us on board.

They had at length ucceeded in extricating the anchor to which the chain that was broken on the 25th of April had been fatened. The drag had been ued in vain as the chain was unk too deep into the mud. The hold of the anchor in the